UNWTO in Brazil to Begin Work on First Regional Office for the Americas

• Americas
• 18 Dec 2023

UNWTO has continued to scale up its support for its Members across the Americas, with plans for a first Regional Office for the region advanced during an official visit to Brazil.

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili led the UNWTO delegation to Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia (13-17 December), recognizing Brazil's strong support and commitment to tourism for development. In Brazil, Secretary-General Pololikashvili enjoyed bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and with the country's Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino.

First UNWTO Office for the Americas

At the 25th UNWTO General Assembly (Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 16-20 October), Member States voted to establish a first Regional Office for the Americas in Rio de Janeiro. The office will further enhance UNWTO's global presence on the ground, adding to a Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Regional Office in Nara, Japan, and its headquarters in Madrid, Spain.

The UNWTO Regional Office for the Americas will help guide tourism development not only in Brazil but across the whole region

• Secretary-General Pololikashvili joined Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino and other high-level delegates to visit the location and oversee the first plans for the Regional Office.
• Building on the plans set out at the General Assembly, UNWTO and the Government of Brazil hosted a special ceremony to celebration the official agreement for the Regional Office.
• The start of the project has been heralded as a major opportunity to enhance Brazil's status as a tourism leader for the Americas as well as one of the leading global destinations.
• The Regional Office for the Americas will focus on strengthening the promotion of investments. One of the first key outputs will be guidelines aimed at boosting green investments, recognizing the importance of biodiversity for tourism in the Americas. The Rio office will also develop a strategy around technical training for youth, allowing them to gain the professional skills they need to grow the sector throughout the region.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "The UNWTO Regional Office for the Americas will help guide tourism development not only in Brazil but across the whole region. Rio de Janeiro will be a true hub of leadership and ideas, with a focus on growing and targeting investments into the sector and harnessing tourism's power for sustainable and inclusive growth."

UNWTO talks tourism with President Lula

Reflecting the recognition of UNWTO's mission at the very highest political level in Brazil, Secretary-General Pololikashvili was warmly welcomed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Their bilateral talks focused on shared priorities, including growing investments in tourism in both Brazil and across the region, and making the sector a driver of growth and opportunity.

In bilateral talks with Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino, UNWTO emphasized the enormous potential of tourism in the Americas…

Celebrating Tourism Excellence in Brazil

During the official visit, the UNWTO delegation joined in celebrations of the best tourism talent and leaders in Brazil. The National Tourism Awards ceremony (Brasilia, 16 December) recognized individuals and initiatives transforming the sector. UNWTO also joined the official opening of National Hall of Tourism.

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First Regional Office for the Americas

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Related Links

• Download the News Release on PDF
• UNWTO General Assembly Endorses Growing Presence on the Ground: Regional Offices in Americas and Africa On the Way
• UNWTO Regional Department for Americas

UNWTO Launches Tourism Investment Guidelines for Chile

• Americas
• 7 Dec 2023

The tourism sector in Chile experienced a 52.9% growth in income 2022, new UNWTO research into the country’s status as a top destination for investors reveals. The latest edition of the UNWTO “Tourism Doing Business: Investment Guidelines” also makes clear the opportunities available to foreign investors and the challenges caused by both national considerations and global economic conditions.

Launched during the 2nd Tourism Investment Forum of Chile (Santiago, 7 December), "Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Chile" highlights the main attributes of the country as a tourist destination and as an attractive place to invest in the sector. The guidelines note:

• Chile is characterized by its free market, diversified and resilient economy, its openness and understanding of global trends, as well as its support mechanisms for innovation readiness to adapt to new trends.
• Solid macroeconomic fundamentals have allowed Chile to stay resilient in the face of changing global conditions and gradually diversify its economy, with mining, particularly copper, as a key sector.
• In tourism, post-pandemic recovery shows 52.9% growth in the sector's income in 2022 compared to 2021. Furthermore, tourism represents 6.6% of total employment in the Chilean economy.

The UNWTO Guidelines showcase the enormous opportunities the tourism sector offers for investors – and the way in which investment is key to building a more sustainable, inclusive and future-proof sector

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Our focus on Chile caps a productive year for UNWTO as we promote investment in tourism, especially in the Americas. The UNWTO Guidelines showcase the enormous opportunities the tourism sector offers for investors – and the way in which investment is key to building a more sustainable, inclusive and future-proof sector."

Investments and tourism employment growing

The guidelines offer a comprehensive overview of the investment landscape in Chile. Key takeaways include:

• A 31% increase in the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2022 compared to 2021, guided mainly by the reinvestment of profits and the expansions of capital.
• Growing investments in tourism. Chile is ranked in the top 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean in greenfield FDI investment announcements in tourism.
• In addition, the Plan of the Ministry of Public Works to Support Sustainable Tourism to 2030 (Plan Especial de Infraestructura del Ministerio de Obras Públicas de Apoyo al Turismo Sustentable a 2030), advances projects worth USD 4.188 billion until 2026.

Chile also stands out for the development of its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, with support institutions such as the Production Promotion Corporation (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción - CORFO) and the Technical Cooperation Service (Servicio de Cooperación Técnica - SERCOTEC). In the tourism field, the Chilean government promotes investments in digital transformation and innovation, including awards from the National Tourism Service for innovative tourism products.

Value and Green Investments

The guidelines set out factors in making Chile an attractive value proposition for investors. These include the quality of its infrastructure, its entrepreneurial ecosystem, its focus on sustainable industries, and its tourist attractions, such as nature tourism, adventure and astrotourism, which stands out due to its clear skies, ideal for astronomic observation. The third chapter also provides an overview of business taxes and specific incentives for tourism investments in the country.

Looking ahead, the guidelines provide insights into green or sustainable investments in Chile, highlighting the country's strategies and commitments towards sustainability, including the transition towards carbon neutrality and the promotion of energy efficiency and resource conservation projects in the tourism industry.

Related Links

• Download News Release on PDF
• Tourism Doing Business Investing in Chile
• Investing in Chile (PDF)
• Tourism Doing Business - Investment Guidelines

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The Regional Corporation of Tourism of the Valparaíso region, Chile, obtains UNWTO.QUEST Certification

• Americas
• 7 Nov 2023

The Regional Corporation of Tourism of the Valparaíso region, Chile, joins other Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) awarded with the UNWTO.QUEST Certification which recognizes quality and excellence in destination management.

About UNWTO.QUEST

UNWTO.QUEST Certification was created to enhance and recognize excellence and quality in the three key performance areas at DMO level: strategic leadership, effective execution, and efficient governance.

It serves as an example of the UNWTO’s leading work in the field of tourism standards to enhance destination management and governance and highlights once again the importance and success of public-private-community partnerships as well as horizontal and vertical cooperation in institutional governance. The Certification has a validity of four years with possibility of renewal.

The Regional Corporation of Tourism of the Valparaíso region

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) congratulates the Regional Corporation of Tourism of the Valparaíso region, Chile, for this achievement which is testimony of the successful and continuous commitment with the governance and competitiveness to build a more sustainable tourism. It is the fifth DMO in the world, the third in Latin America and the first of Chile to receive the UNWTO.QUEST Certification, thus contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the Valparaíso Region as a tourism destination.

The Regional Corporation of Tourism of the Valparaíso region ranked exceptionally high in the area of assessment related to “Efficient Governance”. The Corporation stood out for its efficient and successful approach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of the regional needs as a whole. The Corporation also showed a solid commitment to the implementation of participative governance models integrating all tourism stakeholders in the tourism planning and management of the region.

Related links

• Download the News Release on PDF
• UNWTO.QUEST
• UNWTO Guidelines for Institutional Strengthening of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs)
• Corporación regional de turismo región de Valparaíso